Women Work to Eliminate Caucus Format

Count My Vote is holding a press conference Wednesday to encourage women to participate in the voting process and to persuade voters to sign a petition that would eliminate the caucus format.

Listen

Listening...

/

Click to listen to the story about changing the caucus system in Utah.

Former first lady Norma Matheson, wife of the late Scott Matheson, is a part of the movement.

“We just want to emphasize how important the Count My Vote initiative is to increase the participation of all voters, but particularly women,” Norma Matheson said.

While women make up the majority of voters in Utah, they make up only a quarter of people who attend caucuses and a small percentage of those who hold political offices. Matheson said this is due to women being too busy with family obligations to attend political meetings.

“All people on both sides of the political persuasion are concerned about participation," Matheson said. "It’s not a party issue. It is certainly a voter issue."

The press conference will feature women including Gail Miller, widow of Larry H. Miller; Jackie Leavitt, former first lady of Utah; Pat Jones, a state senator; Nichole Dunn, deputy mayor of Salt Lake County, and several others. It will be held Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. in downtown Salt Lake City on the corner of 100 South and Main Street.

Morgan Pratt is a sophomore at Utah State University seeking a degree in Journalism and Communications.